Still summer fun...

We finally got a chance to go boating with Tim and Celeste...which was super fun! Since we don't go very ofter, we're pretty rusty on the whole skiing thing....but tubes we can handle! Was a perfect day!

I was so excited to have my cousins from North Carolina come stay with us for a few days...I haven't seen them for at least 3 or 4 years and it was so fun to get to spend so much time with them. Top left is Leslie, Natalie and me...we are all the same age and have always been best friends growing up...even over the distances. Cathy and Porter had a great game of Connect Four going at the cabin...Cristy was just chillin on the couch...and Korinne absolutely adored Leslie...as you can see. She wants to know why I'm not as fun as my cousins. I told her it wasn't in my job description. It was great to have them here....miss them tons now!

Our trip to Yellowstone was the best trip there I have ever had! We braved the horror stories of people getting eaten by bears in their campgrounds and we went ahead and camped in tents in grizzly country....it was soooo beautiful, and the camping was a blast! We went on several different beautiful hikes, saw a wolf running along side our car one of the days....saw 6 different bears (not in our camp)...5 grizzlies and one black bear. We got to watch the grizzlies eating a dead buffalo and they would chase the coyotes away until they were done eating...it was pretty neat....kind of like national geographic in real life! Saw plenty of buffalo and a few elk. It got pretty cold at night...we slept in our winter gear, but the days were nice and perfect for hiking and sightseeing. The kids earned their junior ranger badges and learned plenty along the way...especially about bears....it was a great trip! We love Yellowstone!!

And, who can come home from Yellowstone without stopping at Lava Hot Springs? The day was beautiful, but only in the 60's. Too cool for me to swim, but it didn't seem to bother the kids. Also, it was a good way for me to get them clean after all that camping....hey, I didn't want the dirt in my tub!! Plus, I don't have to clean the pool...so it worked out great!

More summer fun

Swim lessons are always a big hit...Holt learned how to backfloat by himself and Porter was working on his dives and getting more confident in the deep end by himself. They both did great....they're all fishes....can't get enough of the water! So fun!

More hiking! This time at Snowbasin. The kids love the gondola ride up and the hike to the top isn't too bad...especially when there is always a patch of snow where we can stop and have a snowball fight....in the middle of July....woo hoo!

Mutton Bustin!! Look at that little cowboy...he was all ready to go take down some sheep! He stayed on for about 3 seconds...not too bad for a first timer. Now he knows how to do even better for next year and he can't wait! The rodeo was fun, too.

More swimming....can't get enough.

More summer highlights

Moving on....4th of July. We always have a great time at the parade at Grandma's, especially because there is unlimited donuts and chocolate milk while we're watching....plus plenty of candy to gather in the street! Look at all these cute kiddos...we love America!

Then, on to Lagoon....why on the 4th of July you might ask? It's actually not very crowded on that day for some odd reason, so here we are! The kids had a blast, as always. Got a few pics of Holt and Britain, but not much of anyone else....what was I thiking?

Another one of our favorite activities is hiking as a family....these kids are great at it! This is hiking Malin's Basin

Bear Lake....we love it! The camping is beautiful...the water is chilly....but the beach is great! Porter even spotted a huge owl in the trees where we were camping...he was conviced that Hogwarts was nearby. Why else would an owl be flying in the trees? Duh!

For my own sake, I am finally adding some of the highlights from our fun summer (we were too busy playing for me to do it then).
Here is our annual dunes trip to St. Anthony's over Memorial Weekend. It was cold, like it is every year, but that doesn't ever stop us, not even the rain! The kids just can't get enough of the 4 wheelers...this is one of their favorite activities of the summer!

How many uncles does it take to get Kennedy going on Colby's motorcycle?

Fast forward a couple of weeks to mid June....Wasatch Back Ragnar!! What a blast. We had an awesome team and even though I got dehydrated and was puking my guts out for a few hours.... I still had a blast!! Can't wait for next year...oh wait, I don't even have to wait that long....Vegas Ragnar....here we come!

Korinne got to be a little cheerleader in the parade...Loved it!! She was so cute, and she got to be good friends with this cute little gal....except now I can't remember her name.

Holt + School = Stop the clock already!!

Holt's turn, too?! How can this kid be so big already!
He was ecstatic to be starting school, too. He's officially a "big kid" now. He loves having his backpack strapped to his back and he tells me every afternoon that he has to do his homework! Ha-ha...what a great kid!

Holt LOVES his school and his teacher, Miss Page. Which, surprises me some, because he has never been the kid that will delve into the unknown and be fine with it....we'll just leave it at that. So, I was kind of nervous about what he would actually do when it came time for me to leave him there, but he never looked back!!

Who would want to leave with all this fun stuff around?

Holt loves to be with his new friends, and he loves to brag to Korinne and Porter about the field trips he will be going on in the next few days...it makes them jealous and he feels soooo cool to have something that they don't!

But, school would never be the same without his best friend, Stockton. So, we joined up in Joy school with Stockton and Owen...which means, I have kid free mornings Five. Days. A. Week! You would think that I could get a lot done....but a couple of hours flies by pretty fast. It's lonely being all by myself anyway....although the quiet is kind of nice!

Here's Holt with his best friends, Stockton and Owen....cute boys!! They love being together and having school....he's definitely getting too big, too fast.

1st day of school....a little belated!

Since we are now 3 1/2 weeks into the new school year, it's about time that I post something about the 1st day already!! I felt like we were scrambling to be ready because we were out of town until the day before school started, but somehow, we were ready and the kids got up good in the morning and were excited to head off! Porter was especially excited to be in 1st grade, because he could eat lunch at school...the novelty will soon wear off, I'm sure. I'm not quite sure how I feel about having another one in school All. Day. Long. It's nice in a way...a little more P & Q for me, ya know. But I miss them. And, as always, I worry about what is influencing their vulnerable little brains for 6 hours out of the day. Okay, I have to stop that thought right there or I start to drive myself crazy. I'm teaching them the principles of the gospel at home and somehow that HAS to carry over....right?! Anyway..... here's Porter with a couple of his buddies, Kory and Sam...they are such goofy guys...they just make me giggle!

Porter was soooo excited to have his own desk...he felt sooo BIG! Stop growing already....it's killing me!!

Look at that grin!!

Korinne was pretty excited to now be one of the "upper grades"...4th grade is a big deal...ya know! She was also a little apprehensive...we've both heard the homework horror stories about 4th grade....and now 3 weeks into it....WOW! Are we ever feeling it! What ever happened to a kid having time to just be a kid? Algebra in 4th grade....are you kidding me?! We might make it through this year with some hair left on our heads....bald patches throughout! But, hey, in 4th grade, you get to serve lunch sometimes...that makes it all worth it, right?

Here's Korinne with a couple of her friends...Maddi and Lia. I think Lia looks extra excited to be there...don't ya think?

Anyway, here's hoping for a great year all around

14 years and going strong!

We celebrated our 14 year anniversary over the weekend by staying at Snowbird for the weekend...which has been our tradition for many years. We love the beautiful mountains, the wonderful hiking trails, but most of all....the time to relax and reconnect and forget about our busy lives for just a few moments.

14 things I love about Colby:

1. His optimistic outlook

2. Honors his priesthood.

3. Treats me like a queen, even when.... no especially when I don't deserve it.

4. Makes me laugh

5. Is a wonderful father

6. Always willing to help with household stuff (dishes, laundry, ect.)

7. Hard worker

8. Makes me feel like I am actually accomplishing something with the kids when I feel like all I'm doing is nagging and barely making it through the day.

9. Knows when to call just to say "hi"

10. My best friend

11. Very good looking

12. Helps me be better than I am by myself

13. Mine

14. Is always so appreciative of me and what I do....even when I'm not very nice.

I love you now more than 14 years ago!! Happy Anniversary. Here's to many, many more!!